Abstract:The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) ? which includes the National Fire Academy (NFA) ? is an entity within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), now part of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its objective is to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and nonfatal injury due to fire. A major issue in the 109th Congress is the viability and status of the USFA and NFA within the Department of Homeland Security. Currently, fire service groups are expressing concerns that USFA and NFA programs are being progressively diminished by DHS, pointing to reductions in the USFA and NFA budgets since FEMA was incorporated into DHS. Meanwhile, the FY2004 National Defense Authorization (P.L. 108-136) contains a provision (the ¨SAFER Act¨) which establishes a federal grant program administered by USFA to provide funding to fire departments for hiring personnel. While no money was appropriated for SAFER grants in FY2004, and the Administration requested no funding for SAFER grants in FY2005, the FY2005 Homeland Security Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-334) provides SAFER Act grants with $65 million for FY2005. The Administration is requesting no funding of the SAFER grants for FY2006. On May 17, 2005 the House passed H.R. 2360, the FY2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The House appropriation is $75 million for SAFER Act grants. This report will be updated as events warrant. [read report]